Rotary tower crane

ABSTRACT

A rotary tower crane having a tower extendible in sections by the use of a sleeve which encloses the tower and is capable of climbing above the tower to receive a tower section to raise the level of the existing tower. The sleeve engages the tower by means of guide members which are movable with respect to the sleeve in such a way as to allow the sleeve to climb at least two different portions of the tower having mutually different crosssections.

D Umted States Patent 1191 [111 3,894,635 Reich July 15, 1975 154] ROTARY TOWER CRANE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 1 lnventori Elmar Reich Schmelzwegv Germany 228,974 8/1963 Austria i. 212/46 B 14 11/1955 France v 1 212/46 B [731 Asslgnee. Dr. Ing. E. h. Hans Liebherr. 7950 Biberach an der Riss Germany 99,146 12/1961 Norway 1. 212/46 B [22] Filed: Oct. 26, I973 Primary ExaminerStanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Charles A. Marmor [2]] Appl 410A) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward R. Weingram {30} Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Oct. 27. 1972 Germany N 2252836 A rotary tower crane having a tower extendible in sections by the use of a sleeve which encloses the tower [52] US. Cl. 212/46 B; 212/144 and is capable of climbing above the tower to receive [51] Int. Cl. .1 B66c 23/62 a tower section to raise the level of the existing tower. [58] Field of Search 4. 212/46 B. 144, 55, 33, The sleeve engages the tower by means of guide mem- 212/34, 57, 64 bers which are movable with respect to the sleeve in such a way as to allow the sleeve to climb at least two [56] References Cited different portions of the tower having mutually differ- UNITED STATES PATENTS em Cross-Sections- 3,045.837 7/1962 Liebherr et a1. 212/46 8 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 9 l a g 7 I 1L u 3 A 20 .1!-

'1 12 b a 1 1 1 llr' I 'TH Vietnam m ROTARY TOWER CRANE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention relates to rotary tower cranes and. more particularly. to apparatus for adjusting the height of the towers of such cranes.

2. Description of the Prior Art Presently. it is possible to extend the height of a crane tower by adding sections to the tower through the use of a hollow guide sleeve which is fitted around the top of the tower and vertically movable with respect to it. To extend the tower the sleeve is caused to climb upward so that at least its upper end is above the existing top of the tower by a distance equal to about the length of a tower section. then a new section is lifted from the ground and introduced laterally into the sleeve. and Finally secured in place on top ofthc existing tower. The sleeve can then climb further. up this new section of tower.

As a rule the head of the crane is rotatably mounted on top of the sleeve to turn about the axis of the tower and carries a horizontal jib or boom and a souriter-jib. The boom may carry a horizontally travelling crab to which the lifting gear of the crane is attached. and this lifting gear is used to lift the fresh tower sections from the ground up to the level of the sleeve. where the section is transferred to horizontal rails on the sleeve. In this way the crane is self-erecting.

A drawback in existing cranes of this type is that the sleeve is only designed to climb one size of tower. However it is common, in tall cranes. for the tower to be built up of two or more superimposed portions of different cross-sections. the largest at the bottom and the smallest at the top. each portion being formed of a number of the above-mentioned sections. In such a situation, where the climbing sleeve only fits the top most portion. the remaining portion or portions have to be erected by the use of an auxiliary mobile crane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To overcome the problems of the prior art. the present invention provides a rotary tower crane having a tower extendible in sections by the use of a sleeve which encloses the tower and is capable of climbing up the tower to receive a fresh tower section above the level of the existing tower. The sleeve engages the tower by means of guide members which are movable with respect to the sleeve in such a way as to allow the sleeve to climb at least two different portions of the tower having mutually different cross-sections.

Preferably there are three sets of guide members vertically spaced apart along the sleeve. Each set may comprise a single array of guide members for engaging the tower. the guide members being movable from one tower-engaging position to a second. and possibly a third. Alternatively, each set of guide members may comprise two or more arrays of tower-engaging guide members and each guide member with the possible exception of those designed for the largest tower crosssection is retractable from an operative tower-engaging position to a position in which it is idle and a member of another of the arrays takes over. each array being designed to engage. in its operative position, a given cross-section of tower.

(all

Where the tower is of square or rectangular crosssection (as is normally the case) the guide members can be in pairs. in the form of horizontally movable elongated members carrying rollers on their free ends and engaging an associated corner of the tower. four such pairs (for the four corners of the tower) making up an array.

The guide members may be constructed with hydraulic cylinders having pistons and sleeves. Where there are two or more arrays of guide members in each set. each guide member may be constructed to linearly retract toward or into the sleeve of the cylinder.

Where there is only a single array of guide members in each set. each member may be movable horizontally in each of two mutually perpendicular directions. For example each member may be movable horizontally in one direction on a carriage which is itself movable horizontally with respcct to the sleeve in the perpendicular direction.

In view of the above. it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary tower crane ol'the type having two or more tower portions of different crossscctions which can be erected without the use of an auxiliary crane.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane having a climbing sleeve which can accommodate tower sections of different crosssections.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane with climbing sleeve having a plurality of sets of guide members vertically spaced on said sleeve adapted to accommodate tower sections of dissimilar cross section.

Still another object ofthe present invention is to provide a rotary tower crane having a climbing sleeve with at least one array of guide members adapted to accommodate tower sections of dissimilar cross-section.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a rotary tower crane accord ing to the invention. having a tower made of three portions of mutually different cross-section.

FIG. 2 is a section along line II-II in FIG. I to a larger scale.

FIG. 3 shows the climbing sleeve of the crane of FIG. 1, in the act of transition from one portion of the tower to another.

FIG. 4 is a view along line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows the detail ringed at V in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows a partial view similar to FIG. 5 of another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The crane shown in the drawings has a tower made up of three portions 1, 2 and 3, of progressively decreasing cross-section. each portion being made of a number of detachable sections of uniform size within that portion. The largest cross-section is that of the lowest portion, and the topmost portion has the smallest cross-section.

Mounted on and enclosing the upper part of the top most portion 3 is a hollow frame structure 4 forming a climbing sleeve. having on its top end a ring mounting or slewing ring 5 by which is supported a head 6. rotatable about the vertical axis of the tower and carrying a horizontal jib or boom 7 and a counter-jib 8. A crab 9 runs on rails to travel along the boom 7 and has lifting gear including a load lifting cable 10.

The sleeve 4 can climb not only up the upper portion 3 of the tower but also up the intermediate portion 2 of larger cross-section. In the example illustrated. it cannot climb the lowest portion 1. and so the first step in erecting the crane is to assemble the portion 1 by means of an auxiliary mobile crane (not shown) but this crane can be comparatively small as it only has to work up to small heights. The first section of the portion 2 is then also fitted and then the sleeve 4 can be lifted into place. complete with the boom 7 and counter-jib 8. The erection of the crane thereafter is by means of the sleeve. as described below. However. if desired. the sleeve 4 could be arranged, within the scope of the invention. to be capable also of erecting the lowest portion.

The crane shown in FIG. 1, is in the process of having its height extended. The sleeve 4 is elevated from the normal position by a distance equal to approximately the length of one tower section. so that it then projects above the top end of the existing tower by that dis tance. but is still securely guided on the topmost section olthe existing tower. The vertical movement of the sleeve 4 can be achieved by a long-stroke hydraulic ram on the sleeve. the piston rod of which engages a transom or cross-member on the topmost section (not shown]. The sleeve 4 is then secured in this position and the ram is retracted. The crab 9 is moved inward along the boom 8 until it is close to the tower and then the cable 10 is used to lift from the ground a fresh tower section 3' having the same cross-section as the sections that make up the uppermost portion 3 of the existing tower. When the new section is at the level of the upper part of the sleeve 4 this new section is transferred to horizontal guide rails 20 that project laterally from the sleeve and is slid inward on these rails until it lies inside the sleeve 4 immediately above the existing tower. It is then secured in place. If a further section is to be added. the sleeve 4 is caused to climb up this newly added section in the manner described above. and the process is repeated.

When the crane is to be dismantled. the same steps are followed. in reverse order.

As shown in FIGS. 1. 3 and 4, the sleeve 4 is in the form of a hollow square frame. open at the bottom, It engages the sections of the tower by means of guide members, now to be described. which are retractable in such a way that the sleeve can climb not only the portion 3 but also the portion 2 of larger cross-section.

Sets of guide members are provided at three levels 12 (FIG. 3) of climbing sleeve 4 spaced apart vertically at equal intervals. As shown in FIG. 4, at each level there is a pair of guide members 13 at each of the four corners of the frame that form the sleeve 4 and also a second pair of guide members 14 at each corner. The two guide members of each pair point in mutually perpendicular horizontal directions to engage two respective faces of the associated corner of the tower.

As shown in FIG. 5, each guide member 13 and 14 comprises a piston-like body 16, movable in a cylinder or sleeve 15 in the direction of its length with respect to the climbing sleeve 4. so as to be capable of being advanced to engage the tower or retracted to clear it. for example hydraulically. The guide member engages the tower through a roller 17 on its operative end.

There are thus ll pairs of the guide members 13 altogether. and the same number of the guide members 14. When the sleeve 4 is to climb the portion 2 of the tower the members 13 are advanced to engage the corners 18 of the sections that make up portion 2. Then when the sleeve is climbing the uppermost portion 3 of the tower the members 13 are retracted and the members 14 are advanced to engage the corners 19 of the sections of that smaller uppermost portion 3 of which the side walls are shown in FIG. 5 in broken lines.

It will be appreciated that, as the uppermost portion 3 of the tower is smaller than the intermediate portion. it is not in fact essential that the members 13 should be able to retract at all. so they could be fixed with respect to the sleeve 4.

Only as the sleeve 4 is moving from the portion 2 to the portion 3 of the tower. or vice-versa are some of the members 13 and 14 of both arrays in action simultaneously. This condition is shown in FIG. 3. At the uppermost level the array of guide members 14 is advanced to engage the lowest sections of the portion 3 of the tower. whereas at the intermediate and lowest levels the arrays of guide members 13 are in engagement with the topmost section of the portion 2. When a second section is to be added to the topmost portion 3 the sleeve is caused to climb upwards. and then at the intermediate level. the guide members 13 are retracted and the guide members 14 are advanced. At a later stage the same change-over takes place at the lowest level. At all times the sleeve is securely located and guided on all four corners of the tower at at least two vertically spaced locations.

When the tower is to be dismantled, the same sequence of movements of the guide members 13 and 14 takes place in reverse order.

As indicated above. if the sleeve 4 is made of large enough cross-section and if the necessary additional guide members are provided, the sleeve could also be arranged to climb the lowermost portion 1 of the tower.

In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 6, each guide member is capable of movement in each of two mutually perpendicular directions. perpen' dicular to the axis of the tower. so that the same member can engage the corners of the larger portion 2 or the smaller portion 3 of the tower. It would. therefore. be possible to use only a single array of pairs of guide members at each level to move the climbing sleeve over portions of the tower having different size. The modified guide members 14' could have cylinders 15' which are slidably mounted on the frame of climbing sleeve 4 and which can be fixed in position by means of locking screws 21.

It will be understood that various changes in the details. materials and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the inventions may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention. as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rotary tower crane comprising:

a tower;

a detachable section adapted to be added to and removed from said tower to raise and lower the height of the tower;

a sleeve disposed about the tower. having a length greater than the length of said detachable section and movable along the axis of the tower to extend partially above the top of the tower;

said sleeve having means for receiving said detachable tower sections to be added and removed from said tower;

guide means disposed on opposing sides of said sleeve and spaced along the length of said sleeve to position said sleeve with respect to said tower and said detachable section with respect to said sleeve to enable said detachable section to be added to and removed from said tower; and

said guide means on said sleeve include means movable transverse the length of said sleeve to enable said sleeve to operatively position said detachable section with respect to said tower when said detachable section has a transverse dimension different from the transverse dimension of said tower, and to enable said sleeve to be operatively positioned with respect to said tower when said sleeve extends over portions of said tower having different transverse dimensions.

2. The rotary tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said movable means comprise at least one array of guide members movable transverse the length of said sleeve to a first position to operatively engage tower sections of large transverse dimension and movable to a second position to operatively engage tower sections of smaller transverse dimension.

3. The rotary tower crane according to claim 2 wherein said movable means comprise:

at least two arrays of guide members;

at least one of said arrays of guide members is movable with respect to said sleeve to a first position to accommodate tower sections of large transverse dimension and movable to a second position to engage tower sections of smaller transverse dimension.

4. The rotary tower crane according to claim 2 wherein each of said guide members is movable in a plane perpendicular to the length of said sleeve.

5. The rotary tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said movable means in said guide means comprise at least two sets of guide members at different levels of said sleeve.

6. The rotary tower crane according to claim 5 wherein said movable means in said guide means comprise three sets of guide members at three vertically spaced levels on said sleeve.

7. The tower crane according to claim 5 wherein said distance between said sets of guide members is at least as large as the length of said detachable tower section to be added to said tower.

8. The rotary tower crane according to claim 5 wherein each set of guide members comprise at least one array of guide members movable with respect to said sleeve to a first position to accommodate tower sections of large cross-section and movable to a second position to engage tower sections of smaller crosssection.

9. The rotary tower crane according to claim I wherein said movable means comprise at least one guide member comprising:

an hydraulic cylinder body;

a piston body movable in said cylinder body; and

roller means connected to said piston body to engage said tower section. 

1. A rotary tower crane comprising: a tower; a detachable section adapted to be added to and removed from said tower to raise and lower the height of the tower; a sleeve disposed about the tower, having a length greater than the length of said detachable section and movable along the axis of the tower to extend partially above the top of the tower; said sleeve having means for receiving said detachable tower sections to be added and removed from said tower; guide means disposed on opposing sides of said sleeve and spaced along the length of said sleeve to position said sleeve with respect to said tower and said detachable section with respect to said sleeve to enable said detachable section to be added to and removed from said tower; and said guide means on said sleeve include means movable transverse the length of said sleeve to enable said sleeve to operatively position said detachable section with respect to said tower when said detachable section has a transverse dimension different from the transverse dimension of said tower, and to enable said sleeve to be operatively positioned with respect to said tower when said sleeve extends over portions of said tower having different transverse dimensions.
 2. The rotary tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said movable means comprise at least one array of guide members movable transverse the length of said sleeve to a first position to operatively engage tower sections of large transverse dimension and movable to a second position to operatively engage tower sections of smaller transverse dimension.
 3. The rotary tower crane according to claim 2 wherein said movable means comprise: at least two arrays of guide members; at least one of said arrays of guide members is movable with respect to said sleeve to a first position to accommodate tower sections of large transverse dimension and movable to a secoNd position to engage tower sections of smaller transverse dimension.
 4. The rotary tower crane according to claim 2 wherein each of said guide members is movable in a plane perpendicular to the length of said sleeve.
 5. The rotary tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said movable means in said guide means comprise at least two sets of guide members at different levels of said sleeve.
 6. The rotary tower crane according to claim 5 wherein said movable means in said guide means comprise three sets of guide members at three vertically spaced levels on said sleeve.
 7. The tower crane according to claim 5 wherein said distance between said sets of guide members is at least as large as the length of said detachable tower section to be added to said tower.
 8. The rotary tower crane according to claim 5 wherein each set of guide members comprise at least one array of guide members movable with respect to said sleeve to a first position to accommodate tower sections of large cross-section and movable to a second position to engage tower sections of smaller cross-section.
 9. The rotary tower crane according to claim 1 wherein said movable means comprise at least one guide member comprising: an hydraulic cylinder body; a piston body movable in said cylinder body; and roller means connected to said piston body to engage said tower section. 